Legislators preview session

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
The 2020 session of the Wyoming Legislature will begin on Feb. 10. Both Rep. Hans Hunt, R-Newcastle, and Rep. Tyler Lindholm, R-Sundance, attended the Weston County Board of Commissioners meeting on Jan. 7 to report on bills of importance to cities and counties. 
According to Lindholm, House Bill 22, which is sponsored by the House Corporations, Election and Political Subdivision Committee. would regulate a county’s ability to impose zoning assessments. The bill says that a city or county may not require “any monetary exaction for the acquisition of land for affordable or workforce housing or the construction, dedication or rehabilitation of affordable or workforce housing.”
Lindholm explained that in Jackson and Teton County, the local government charges certain fees for construction work, resulting in some hefty costs for people. 
“I believe a county and city’s oversight is derived from state statute, and there is nothing in the statute about exactions,” Lindholm said. “We are proposing legislation that says, ‘No, you can’t’ and I believe we need that in place.”
He noted that passing this piece of legislation would remove the “gray” place that Teton County and Jackson are operating in.
“They have no authority to levy that tax. We are doing this because there is no mandate and I think that is bad,” Lindholm said. 
Hunt added that the bill is a continuation of several pieces from the 2019 legislative session, specifically the failure to pass state fencing standards last year. 
“There was debate over local control with that, and
it gets to a point where it
runs amuck,” Hunt said. “There has to be some standards, and I think that sets a poor precedent.” 
According to Lindholm, local control will be one of the most important topics in this year’s legislative session. 
Also sponsored by Lindholm and Sen. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower, is a bill that would restrict gun buy-back programs in the state. 
“This bill is short and concise. It says that we will not spend money buying back guns,” Lindholm said. 
Lindholm noted that there is no buy-back program in the state.
“I just want to make it as difficult as I can to tear down what I built,” Lindholm said. 
Hunt, on the other hand, focused on bills coming out of the House Agriculture, State and Public Land and Water Resource Committee, a committee he chairs. He predicted that weeds will be the hot topic when it comes to agriculture. 
According to Hunt, House Bill 36 would raise the pesticide registration fee to $120. 
“That money will be a filler to provide training required federally,” Hunt said. “We have it put at $120, which is lower than most states.” 
Also addressing weeds is House Bill 36, which would amend weed and pest regulations. Hunt said that the amendment would grant local boards additional authority to spray for weeds when a landowner is uncooperative. 
According to Hunt, this bill will address a lack of authority to treat invasive species. 
“There was an issue in Sheridan County with an invasive species,” Hunt said. “This will give local government the ability to prevent the spread of those invasive species.”